Halfway across the globe in Yingkou, General Zhao assembled his troops for a crucial strike against the Orc stronghold in Manchuria. The Arcadian and Chinese forces combined were a sight to behold, their collective determination evident as they marched. A sense of nervous anticipation hovered over the army, as they fine-tuned their battle strategies.
On another hemisphere, Brazil was teeming with military activity. Arcadian officers liaised with local forces, pooling their resources together and banking on unity as their primary strength against the invaders. News from Jarvis' African campaign bolstered morale; if he could make headway against overwhelming odds, then so could they.
Aboard naval vessels in the Pacific Ocean, Arcadian and American troops prepared to conduct various covert operations. Maps sprawled across large tables showed key Orc encampments dotting coastlines from Southeast Asia up to California's shores. Nightly operations included paratrooper drops behind enemy lines and swift sea attacks on Orc encampments, aimed at destabilizing the invader's grip on the coastline.
Meanwhile in India, the capital might have been untouched, but the heartland of the nation was under siege. The Orcs had cut off major supply routes and communication channels making coordination between various parts of the country nearly impossible. The Arcadian forces in India were largely kept busy in stabilizing these routes and attempting to recapture key locations taken over by Orc forces.
The situation in North America was equally grave. With Washington fallen, San Antonio had become a beacon of hope for what remained of the U.S government and its people. A contingent of Arcadian soldiers was set to arrive soon to help strengthen the fortifications around the city and assist in planning counterattacks against the advancing Orc legions.
Back in Africa, Jarvis' army marched on towards Khartoum with relentless determination. They faced grueling sandstorms and excruciating heat during the day while bitterly cold winds swept across their ranks at night. But they did not stop. Their armor provided them with the much needed protection from the African environment.
After a few hours of traveling, they had arrived at Khartoum and the battle had commenced. Khartoum once the bustling Sudanese capital was now a smoky ruin dotted with Orc encampments. UAN fighters, though outmatched and outgunned, had managed to hold off complete domination through their fierce and unyielding defense.
The arrival of Jarvis' army invigorated the remaining UAN forces. With the combined might of Arcadia and Africa, they launched an attack on the Orc stronghold at daybreak. The clanging of weapons, roars of infantry charging, sounds of aircraft flying over the battlefield had filled the air as the battle started.
Jarvis was at the head of the force leading the Arcadian and UAN forces from the front. Ova was right by his side as they advanced onto the city.
The Arcadian Marines charged forward, taking the brunt of the damage while the gunships provided support from above. The multi-role aircraft were in charge of securing the airspace and also providing support to the ground troops when able.
A few thousand members of the Magic Demon Corps were integrated into the attacking army and providing support across all fronts. Some were turned into artillery units; to launch long-range magic towards behind enemy lines, some were providing protective barriers to counter the Orcs' long range artillery attacks.
The Orc commander stood atop a hastily constructed fortification, directing his forces with roars and savage gestures. Spotting him from across the battlefield, Jarvis and Ova exchanged a determined nod, leading a small force towards him.
They cut through waves of orc soldiers like an unstoppable tidal wave as they advanced closer. Every explosion from the Arcadian artillery, each blast of magic from the Demon Corps served to drive them forward, closer to their target. The Orc commander watched their approach, his beady eyes glaring with a mixture of rage and fascination. He roared commands to his immediate protectors but held his ground, resolute.
Jarvis' forces met fierce resistance as they neared the fortification. Orc soldiers, larger and stronger than most, threw themselves at Jarvis and Ova with reckless determination. But they were met head-on by Jarvis who simply overpowered them using his strength.
He grabbed one Orc who was much taller than him by his arm and threw him into another group of Orcs causing them to fall to the ground. As they were on the ground, a group of Arcadian marines threw some pulse grenades which killed the group.
Ova had on the hand was using her lightning powers as she was a lightning dragon to zap the Orcs who dared to come near her. Each crack of electricity sent bodies flying, adding to the growing pile of felled invaders.
The rate of attrition was high but also manageable as special magic healers from Arcadia were present within the medical tents. They could heal any wound that a soldier received unless they lost a limb. Once a soldier was healed back to full health and was mentally ready to rejoin the battle, they were sent back to the front lines.
After a long-drawn battle with hundreds of casualties on both sides, Jarvis and Ova finally stood before the Orc commander. His massive figure loomed over them.
"You Pathetic Humans dare challenge me to a fight" The Orc commander shouted, his voice booming over the ongoing battle.
"I challenge you to more than a fight, monster," Jarvis retorted. "I challenge you to face your inevitable demise."
His words seemed to amuse the Orc Commander, who erupted in a fit of hearty laughter that echoed over the battlefield. "You? A mere human? Slay me?" he taunted between fits of laughter.
Then without further delay, the commander lunged at Jarvis, wielding an immense broadsword that gleamed ominously. Jarvis sidestepped, dodging the reckless charge. But the Orc recovered quickly and swiped at Jarvis again.
Ova moved with lightning speed, intercepting the sword with her own weapon and sending sparks flying. Her power radiated across the battlefield as streaks of electricity danced around her, throwing several orcs backwards.
Jarvis seized this opportunity to strike back, he pulled out his pistol and shot a few shots at the Orc commander as he charged forward towards him. Each shot left a spray of dark blood in the air, momentarily obscuring Jarvis' view. But his vision cleared just in time for him to barrel into the Orc Commander, sending both of them crashing to the ground. He wrestled with the larger being, a primal struggle of brute strength and sheer will.
Ova darted forward, lightning enveloping her form. She rushed an orc attempting to blindside Jarvis, her blade cleaving through its body. The orc fell with a guttural scream, leaving a clear path for her to reach Jarvis.
Meanwhile, Jarvis managed to briefly overpower the Orc commander by knocking away his broadsword and landing solid punches on the beast. With the ability of a Gods strength that he had, the Orc was overwhelmed by each punch, he tried to retaliate with a brutal backhand.
But Jarvis caught his arm and continued to send punch after punch into the monster's face. The sounds of Jarvis's fist colliding the with Orc Commanders jar had echoed through the battlefield.
Meanwhile, on other fronts of the battlefield, the tide began to turn. The Arcadian and UAN forces were making headway, pushing back the Orcs under the combined might of their weaponry and magic. The sight of their commander being bested served to invigorate their spirits further.
On seeing their commander in a perilous state, a group of Orc soldiers started charging towards Jarvis. Sensing the danger, Ova sent a wave of lightning towards them. The Orcs convulsed under the high voltage shock, their bodies collapsing onto the ground like fallen dominos.
Jarvis turned his attention back to the Orc commander who was now staggering back to his feet. "Do you yield?" Jarvis shouted, but instead of words, he received a guttural roar.
A sudden surge of power erupted from within the Orc commander as he called upon every last bit of his strength. He lunged at Jarvis one more time, his eyes burning in defiance and rage.
Jarvis met the charge with all his might, their bodies crashing together. The Orc commander brought down his fists in an attempt to overtake Jarvis, but he swiftly dodged, delivering a quick and brutal jab to its midsection. The commander staggered backwards, clutching his stomach.
Seeing his chance, Jarvis grabbed the Orc Commanders own weapon and with one swift swing, managed to separate the Orcs head from its body.
The battlefield fell silent as the body of the Orc commander staggered, then fell heavily to the ground. The head rolled to a stop, dark eyes still wide open in surprise and defiance.
A cheer sounded from the troops of Arcadia and UAN forces. Ova joined Jarvis's side making sure no Orcs interrupted. Jarvis raised his hand in the air, signaling for silence. When the cheering gradually subsided, he spoke in a loud clear voice, "I stand before you after vanquishing their leader! I stand here as your Emperor who fights beside you and with you. This victory we've achieved, it is not my victory alone, but ours. Together, we have shown these orcs what it means to challenge us."
With a sweeping gesture at the fallen body of the Orc commander, he continued. "We may admire our enemy for their resolve, for their determination. They were willing to fight and to die for their cause, and for that, they deserve respect. But remember this day as proof that even in face of such relentless opposition, we stood strong. We did not falter. We did not break."
"This city was once a beacon of hope and prosperity," he began. "Under the orc occupation, it became a place of despair. Today marks its first day on a long journey back to being what it was meant to. But I promise you this- we shall rebuild it stronger than ever!"
Cheers erupted once again from the ranks of soldiers whose spirits were running high from their victory and their Emperor's rousing speech.
That very speech was recorded and shown to every force located around the world, to show that victory was still within their grasps.